Each February, I like to start a list of players who are out for the season and need to be deleted from my mind in terms of fantasy draft preparation.

This tactic — borne from a 13th-round fiasco I'd rather not elaborate on a few years back —  prevents me from being the guy who inevitably drafts the pitcher who'd be a late-round steal were it not for his blown-out shoulder or arm.

Better I be the one doing the chatroom mocking and not being on the receiving end, you know.

Anyway, I'm sad to report that Colorado pitcher Jeff Francis will likely be at the top of the DND!s in 2009. After struggling with shoulder problems last season, the lefty will have exploratory surgery in Denver next week. Francis says the findings will probably be "not good" and that he'll probably be out 6-12 months.  

From the Denver Post: 

"It is disappointing but in the state I'm in, it's not fair to me, and it's not fair to my team," Francis said. "The chances of me returning this season are remote."

Don't worry, though. The Rockies traded for Jason Marquis as a contingency plan and he'll slip right into Francis' spot on my projected ... wait, actually the healthy Marquis was already first on my DND! list. Francis will have to go right below him. 

Was 2007 really only two years ago, Rox fans?